Water-closet valve.



P. HAAS.

WATER CLOSET VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1913.

Patented June a, 1915.

" NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHORLLITHO WASHINGTON. D. c

PHILII HAAS, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

WATER-CLOSET VALVE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP HAAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Water-Closet Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to, make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and a slight modification thereof and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

My invention relates to water closet installations in which the flushing action is arranged to take place directly from the water supply pipe, such as are used in locations in which a plentiful supply of water in large volume and under considerable pressure is available. In such cases the use of a flush tank can be dispensed with.

The improvement hereinafter described, concerns itself with the regulation of such water supply, which is preferably automatically controlled by the depression and relief of the pivoted closet seat and in its preferred form, my invention contemplates in an apparatus of this character the provision of a separate discharge aperture 1n the valve mechanism communicating with a jet discharging into and longitudinally of the trap and serving the double purpose of first setting up the siphonic action and emptying the trap, and secondly ope rat1ng continuously while the closet is in use and creating a powerful suction through the empty trap and positively withdrawing large volumes of air from the bowl and discharging it through the soil pipe, thus positively and effectually preventing any foul a1r from passing from the bowl into the atmosphere of the room, without providing any additional mechanism or in any wise complicating the plumbing connections for the closet. This ventilating feature is broadly covered by an application for United States Letters Patent filed by me on or about July 19, 1912, Serial No. 710,507, and is of great importance in the manufacture and installation of this class of apparatus. As will be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1913.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Serial No. 798,300.

understood, a closet so constructed and arranged can be placed in any location, such as the bedroom of an invalid or a hospital bedroom, as well as in bath rooms, lavatories, and the like, without the slightest danger of any contamination of the surrounding atmosphere, and a closet of this character is as innocuous and sanitary as any other article of furniture. Moreover, as will be hereinafter understood, a closet provided with this ventilating feature may be madean active agent in securing the better ventilation of sick rooms, hospital rooms, bath rooms, or any other rooms in which it is installed, especially where as in apparatus of the class under consideration, a large water supply is available, as the operation of the valve by the mere depression of the seat by hand or otherwise, will instantly put the ventilating apparatus into efiect and positively withdraw from the room large volumes of air which must be replaced by fresh air entering through the doors and windows thereof.

My present invention relates to a specific form of valve mechanism for accomplishing these results, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional View of a closet bowl showing my valve mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve mechanism, the valve stem being broken away and the valve mechanism being in position to close the water inlet. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the valve mechanism showing it in position with the inlet valve opened, and the auxiliary valve closed. Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view on line 4- of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows therein. Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig.2 showing a modification of my improved valve mechanism in which the ventilating feature is omitted. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the hollow stem uniting the two valves and the pin which extends therethrough, drawn to a slightly enlarged scale, and exaggerated to show the annular passage between the pin and stem for the passage of water from the inlet aperture to the back pressure chamber. I

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 1 rep resents a closet bowl preferably of porcelain provided with a rim flushing aperture 2, a

trap 3, a discharge outlet 4 communicating with the soil pipe and having an aperture 5 in the lower part of the trap for the insertion of the jet. The bowl is provided with 5 the inlet aperture 6 communicating with the rim flush passage and adapted to receive the spud for connecting the valve mechanism thereto and the bowl is also provided preferably near the bottom thereof witha second inlet aperture 8 to receive a spud and stuffing box or other suitable construction for connecting the jet pipe thereto.

10 represents the main body of the valve casing which is provided on one side with an annular diaphragm supporting flange 11, the inner portion of which is concave as shown at 11*, to permit the required movement of the diaphragm hereinafter described, the casing is provided internally with a central partition 12 having cylindrical aperture therein the interior surface or wall 13 of which forms a valve seat and the back of the casing is provided in alinement with said valve seat 13, with a water inlet aperture 14: provided with a valve seat I 15 at its inner end The partition 12 divides the interior of the valve easing into the chamber 16 between the partition and the flange 11, and a chamber 17 between the partition and the water inlet 14. The valve casing is also provided with a back Pressure passage which may be formed in any usual or desired manner for discharging the water from the back pressure chamber herein- 55 after described and the casing is also provided with a suitable back pressure valve. In the present instance I have shown the :upper portion ofthe body of the valve cas ing provided with a cylindrical extension 18, the interior of which communicates with the chamber 16 and a metallic projection 19 extends inwardly from the front face orflange 11 of said body and is provided with a horizontal passage 20 extending to near the inner. end thereof, and a vertical passage 21 communicating therewith. The annular flange 11 is provided with a short nipple 22 projecting therefrom and forming a continuation of the passage 20,the said 59 passages 21'and 20 and the passage through said nipple forming portions of the back 3 pressure passage.

'25 represents a diaphragm of-rubber or other suitable material which engages the 5 flange 11 of the main body of the valve'casing, and is provided with an extension at its upper edge having an aperture therein fitting over the nipple 22. 26 represents a concave front plate adapted to fit upon the flange 11 of the valve casing and having a recess 27- therein said plate forming the outer wall of'the back pressure chamber, the inner wall being formed by the diaphragm itself. The edges" of the dia- 55 phragm are clamped between the front plate 26 and the flange 11 and the front plate is' secured in position by screws asindicated in the drawings. The front plate 26 is also provided with a'recess 28 fitting over the nipple 22, a'nd a recess 29 below the same communicating with the chamber 27 and connected by a short vertical passage 30 with the recess 28, thus completing the back pressure passage from the extension 18 of the valve'casing to the back pressure chamber 27, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. lVithin the extension 18 is a vertically movable boss 31 provided at its lower face with a valve 32 for engaging the back pressure valve seat surrounding the passage 21, and said boss is provided with a valve stem 33 extending outside of the casing through a suitable cap 34 secured upon the upper end of the extension 18and provided interiorly with a recess to receive packing ring 35 and a compressing ring 36. A'spiral spring 37 is interposed between the compressing'ring or washer 36 and the boss31 which holds the valve 32011 its seat and also compresses the packing 35 he so as to make a tight joint around the valve 9o stem.

The central portion of the diaphragm is providedwith a hollow valve stem 40 having an annular flange 41 adjacent to its inner end for reinforcing the central portion of the diaphragm, the latter being in this instance clamped between said flange 4:1 and a washer 42 on a reduced portion of the sleeve extending through the central aperture in the diaphragm and threaded to receive a clamping nut 43. The valve stem 40 extends transversely through the valve casing and the portion thereof which extends through the cylindrical valve seat 13, and is provided with radial guiding webs 44- beyond which the sleeve is provided with an annular flange 45and a redueedthreaded portion 46 which carries two parts opera-ted. simultaneously by the diaphragm. Adjacent to the flange 45 is a valve preferably in the form of a leather washer 4:7 surrounding the reduced portion of the valve stem and clamped between the flange 15 and a metal washer 48, the second valve oomprising, preferably, a rubber Washer 49 held in a cup washer 50, said valves being held rigidly on the reduced portion of the valve stem by means of a nut 51 and washer, the

loo

valve 49 being in position to engage the valve seat 15 and close the inlet aperture when the valve is in closed position as shown in'Fig. 2, andthe valve 4L7 is adapted to fit tightly in the cylindrical valve seat 13 and close thesaid cylindrical aperture when the valve is injopen position as shown in Fig. 3. 1251 The valve casing is also provided with an auxiliary discharge aperture -60 communieating with the chamber 17 adjacent tothe water inlet aperture and preferably extending downwardly therefrom, as shown, to 189 which is connected a jet supply pipe 61 by means of suitable couplings or connections and I prefer to interpose between the valve casing and the jet supply pipe a screen 62 for the purpose of preventing the passage of foreign matter in the water to the small jet opening with which the jet pipe 61 is connected.

In order to afford a passage from the water inlet aperture 14 to the back pressure chamber 27, I prefer to provide a pin 65 which extends longitudinally through the sleeve 4-0 and fits therein with a loose or easy fit, the said pin being held from longitudinal movement by its engagement at its outer end with the cover plate 26 and at its inner end with a lug 66 located in the water inlet aperture 1 1-, as shown. This construction provides a minute annular passage indicated at 65 in Fig. 6 between the pin 65 and the inner wall of the sleeve 40 through which the water may pass from the water inlet pipe to the back pressure chamber, and the movements of the valves and sleeve 40 under the influence of the diaphragm are not affected by the pin over which the sleeve slides freely. The friction between the pin and the sleeve serves to keep the annular passage at all times free.

The valve casing is preferably connected to the flush aperture 6 of the bowl which communicates with the rim flush passage 2, by means of the usual spud 68 engaging in the aperture 6 and held in position therein by the clamping collar 66, and a suitable nut 67 connecting the spud with a nipple which in this instance screws into an interiorly threaded flushing aperture 70 formed in the casing and communicating with the chainbcr 16 (seeFigs. 1 to 3). This connection supports the valve casing from the bowl. The jet pipe 61 before referred to is con nccted to the bowl through the aperture 8 by means of a suitable spud and stuffing box and preferably (but not necessarily) extends continuously to the jet receiving aperture 5 where the pipe terminates in a reduced discharge aperture or jet 69 which discharges longitudinally through the up wardly inclined portions of the trap,

80 represents the closet seat which is hinged at 81 to lugs secured. to the bowl and is provided with a rearwardly extending slotted or recessed extension 82 through which the valve stem 33 passes. The valve stem is provided at its upper end with a threaded portion to receive a nut 83 against which the upper face of the lever 82 bears so that when the seat 80 is depressed the valve stem 33 is raised and when the seat is released the spring 37 depresses the valve 32 into closed position and raises the seat.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows. The parts are normally in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the seat is depressed as in use, the extension or lever 82 connected therewith raises the valve stem 33 and lifts the valve 82 from its seat, thereby relieving the back pressure chamber 27. The pressure of the water entering the valve casing from the water supply pipe which is connected to the portion of the valve surrounding the water inlet 14, pressing against the face of the water inlet valve 49 causes the sleeve 40 and the diaphragm to move quickly in the direction toward the front plate 26 of the valve casing, and expel a portion of the water from the back pressure chamber, which is discharged through the passage 21 into the chamber 16 of the valve casing, thence through the flushing aperture tothe bowl. The incoming water from the aperture 14; enters the valve casing under considerable pressure and with considerable velocity, and at first passes around the leather valve 47 through the cylindrical valve seat or passage 13 in the partition 12 to the chamber 16, and thence through the flushing rim of the bowl. This flush as will hereinafter appear is only momentary but serves the purpose of wetting the inner surfaces of the walls of the bowl above the water seal, which are ordinarily dry, in order to prevent the adhesion of any matter thereto. Simultaneously a' portion of the water passes downwardly through the auxiliary outlet passage to the jet pipe Gland is discharged with great force from the jet 63, thus setting up the siphonic action of the trap, and emptying the trap and continuing to discharge a stream with great force through the empty trap and setting up a powerful suction therethrough to the soil pipe which carries with it large volumes of air from the bowl, thus positively prevent ing any contamination of the atmosphere of the room so long as the et acts.

Almost immediately after the first opening of the inlet valve, the forward movement of the sleeve 40 carries the secondary valve l7 into the cylindrical valve seat 13, thus closing the communication between the chambers 17 and 16 and shutting off the flow to the flushing aperture while continuing the discharge of water through the jet passage 60, the jet tube 61 and the jet, as before described, and continuing the powerful ventilating action above described, so long as th seat remain depressed. As soon as the seat is released the back pressure relieving valve 32 closes the passage 21, and the pressure of the incoming water causes a portion to leak around the pin and between it and the sleeve 4.0 into the back pressure chamber where it accumulates, thus gradually forcing back the diaphragm away from the face plate 26 as the chamber fills, and first removing the secondary valve 47 from its cylindrical seat and restablishing communication between the chambers 17 and 16 so that while the jet continues, the rim flush agaln commences and thoroughly flushes the bowl and cleanses it. The gradual outward movement of the sleeve 40 underthe impulse of the diaphragm and the water pressure accumulating in the back pressure chamber 27, gradually closes the valve 49 upon its seat 15 and as the water is gradually cut off the jet flush and rim flush are simultaneously checked and finally stopped, but not before the liquid seal has been restored by the waterflowing through the rim flush passage after the jet flush passage has been sufficiently checkedto prevent the setting up of the siphonic action in the trap. The duration of flush will depend upon the extentof movement of the valve sleeve and the rapidity with which the water accumulates in the back pressure chamber so that by using pins 65 of slightly different diameters the duration of the flush may be altered if desired.

It will be noted that the cylindrical valve seat 13 in combination with the leather valve l7 which is in the nature ofa piston valve, in that it fits tightly in and slides in the cylindrical valve seat, enables the valve 47 to seat quickly after the first opening of the 'water inlet so as to cutoff the supply to the main flushing outlet 70, and as the water in the back pressure chamber is further expelled the sleeve and piston valve move fill? ther through the cylindrical valve seat while the valve securely closes the passage therethrough. It follows therefore that the sequence of operation before described following the first opening of the water inlet, to wit, asupply of water to the flushing outlet 70, and to the jet, followed almost immediately by cutting off of the main flushing discharge while continuing the jet dis charge to effect the injector, like discharge from the jet through the empty trap and thereby creating powerful suction, must take place regardless of the time that the back pressure relief valve is held open. And likewise, the sequence of operations during the closing movement of the valve following the seating of the back pressure relief valve,

to wit, the admission of water to both the.

flushing aperture and the jet and the simultaneousthrottling of both outlets by the closing of the water inlet valve 49, thus flushing the bowl and restoring the liquid seal in the trap, must necessarily take place,

and follow the operation of the back pres sure relief valve. The operations of the valve mechanism are therefore truly automatic and cannot be defeated, and further, being preferably produced by. the depression of the seat as shown, they areautomatically brought about without the necessity for any conscious effort on the part of the user.

" 'In some instances, I may omit the veiltilating feature as where, for example, the bowl is not provided with means for making an independent jet connection with the auxiliary outlet 60 in which case the outlet 60 can be plugged andclosed, as will be perfectly obvious. In such case the valve mechanism will nevertheless operate exactly in the manner heretofore described, except that the ventilating function will not be performed. Thus, on. the operation of the valve, supposing the auxiliary outlet 60 to be closed as stated, the opening of the water inlet valve 49 would allow the water to pass through the passage 13 to the main flushing outlet70 and thence to the bowl for the purpose of wetting the inner surfaces of the walls above the water level of the trap, as

heretofore described, and this supply would be almost instantly cut off by the seating of the piston valve 47 in the cylindrical valve seat 13. Thereafter no further discharge of water could take place until the seat is released when the valve sleeve and valves will be returned to normal position by the accumuthis figurethe parts are lettered to correspond with the partsishownlin Figs. 1 to 4t inclusive, with the addition of a letter to the.

numerals. Thus 10 represents the body of the casing which is constructed exactly like the casing shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, except that the lower part is not provided with an auxiliary delivery passage and fur-,

ther, the valve seat shownat 15 in Fig. 2 for thewater inlet. valve is transferred to the inner face of the partition 12 where it isindicated at 15 The water inlet valve 49 in this instance consists of a rubber ring carried in a metal cup washer 5O directly in rear of the central portion of the diaphragm 25, being held in place against the shouldered portion of the stem 10* by .a clamping nut 43 and suitable washers. The other end of the sleeve is provided in this instance simply with the piston valve 47 preferably of leather, which is clamped between the fiange 45? of the sleeve and a suitable securing nut 51. Thispiston valve is adapted to seat itself inthe cylindrical passage in the partition, the cylindrical wall of which forms the valve seat 13*. The back pressure chamber, the relief passage therefor, and the back pressure relief valve are exactly like the corresponding parts previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to i, and the sleeve is provided with the central pin between Which, and the inner wall of the sleeve, a minute annular passage is formed for permitting the incoming water to pass to the back pressure chamber and accumulate when the back pressure relief valve is closed, as before described. In this construction shown in Fig, 5, the pressure of the incoming water is against the face of the valve 49, but as this valve is of less diameter than the surface of the diaphragm 25 acted upon by the back pressure water, the valve will remain closed against the water pressure of the main or supply. When the back pressure relief valve is operated, the pressure of the water causes the sleeve 40 to move quickly inward expelling portions of the water in the back pressure chamber 27 and as soon as the inlet valve 49 leaves its seat, the incoming water will immediately pass to the main flushing outlet 7 0 and be dischar ed through the rim passage in the bowl so as to wet the side walls of the bowl above the water level of the seal. This preliminary flushing will be almost immediately cut off by the piston valve 47 seating itself in the cylindrical valve seat 13 as will be clearly understood from reference to Fig. 5, thus preventing anyfurther quantities of water from passing to the flushing outlet until the back pressure relief valve is again closed as by the release of the closet seat. As soon as this back pressure relief valve closes the water will pass between the pin 65 and the sleeve into the back pressure chamber 27 and accumulate, forcing the diaphragm and the inlet valve 49 to the left in Fig. 5, and as soon as the piston valve 47 is unseated, the water will again pass to the flushing outlet 70 and continue to thoroughly flush the bowl until it is throttled by the gradual seating of the inlet valve 49* and causing the restoration of the liquid seal as the water is gradually cut off.

For convenience of reference 1 term the chamber on the inlet side of the central partition in the valve casing, the inlet chamber, the same being the chamber 17 in Figs. 1 to t and 17 in Fig. 5, and 1 term the chamber on the other side of the partition, to wit chamber 16 in Figs. 1 to 4 and chamber 16 in Fig. 5, the outlet chamber.

In addition to regulating the duration of flush by varying the diameter of the pin 65 (or 65*), I may also vary the duration of flush by varying the distance between the water inlet valve and the piston valve by using a greater number of washers to separate the same than herein shown, thus in Figs. 2 and 3 in place of the single washer 48, I may use a plurality of washers, and in the duration of the flush, on the closing movement of the valve after the closing of the back pressure relief valve.

It will be noted that the piston valve 47 is in engagement with its cylindrical valve seat during a considerable portion of the movement of the valves in both directions, thus maintaining the aperture in the partition closed during such portion of the valve movements. This construction has a very desirable efiect, especially during the return movement or closing movement of the inlet valve, and the piston valve 47 maintains the partition aperture closed during a considerable portion of the return movement, thus facilitating the passage of water between the stem 65 and the sleeve 40 into the back pres sure chamber to refill the same and effect the closing movement of the inlet valve, and it is also found in practice that the tendency of the valve to set up a hammering in the valve casing and pipe line is prevented and the return movement of the inlet valve is rendered more uniform and steady than.

would be the case if the partition aperture were opened immediately upon the commencement of the return movement.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a water closet bowl provided with a flushing passage, of a valve casing provided with a central partition having an aperture therein, having an imperforate cylindrical wall forming a valve seat, said casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber on opposite sides of said partition, a back pressure chamber, adjacent to the outlet chamber, and an inlet valve seat at a distance from said cylindrical aperture and in line therewith, a diaphragm separating the outlet and back pressure chambers, a normally closed inlet valve engaging the inlet valve seat, for preventing the flow of water through the casing, a normally open piston valve in the inlet chamber normally out of engagement sure chamber, whereby the piston valve maintains the aperture in the partition closed during a portion of the return movement of said valves, to facilitate the refilling of the back pressure chamber, and prevent hammering, without interfering with the movement of said valves by said diaphragm.

2. The combination with a water closet bowl provided with a trap, a rim flushing passage, and a jet flushing passage discharging longitudinally through the trap, of a valve casing provided with a central partition having a cylindrical aperture therein forming a valve seat, said casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber on opposite sides of said partition, a back pressure chamber adjacent to the outlet chamber, and an inlet valve seat, a diaphragm separating the outlet and back pressure chambers, a normally closed inlet valve engaging the inlet valve seat, a normally open piston valve adapted to fit and move in said cylindrical valve seat, said valves being rigidly connected with the diaphragm for movement therewith, a connection between the outlet chamber and therim flush passage of the bowl, aseparate connection between the inlet. chamber and ,thejet flush passage of the bowl, a relief passage for the back pressure chamber, a relief valve controlling said relief passage, means for establishing communication from the inlet chamber to the back pressure chamber,and means operable by the weight of the user for actuating the relief valve, whereby when the relief valve is opened the water will pass through both flushing apertures to wet the bowl and empty .the trap until the piston valve is seated when the rim flush is cutoff and a discharge through the jet passage continues to ventilate the bowl, so long as the relief valve remains open, and on the closing of the relief valve, water is delivered to both dischargepassages until the inlet valve is closed by the diaphragm.

3. The combination with a water closet bowl provided with a trap, a rim flushing passage, and a jet flushing passage discharging longitudinally through the trap, of a valve casing provided with a central partition having a cylindrical aperture therein forming a valve seat, said casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet-chamber on opture, a normally open piston valve in the inlet chamber, constructed to engage and move in said cylindrical valve seat, a diaphragm separating the outlet and back pressure chambers, said valves being rigidly connected together and to the diaphragm for joint movement therewith, a relief valve forlthe back pressure chamber, means for establishing communication between the inlet aperture and the back pressure chamber, a connection from the inlet chamber to the jet passage, a connection from the outlet chamber to the rim flushing passage, a pivoted seat, operatively connected with the relief valve, and a spring for returning the relief valve and normally holding the seat in elevated position.

4. The combination with a water closet bowl provided with a trap, a rim flushing passage, and a jet flushing passage dis charging longitudinally through the trap, of a valve casing provided with inlet and outlet passages separated by a partition having an aperture therein, a back pressure chamber, and a diaphragm separating it fromthe outlet chamber, a connection from the inlet chamber to the jet flushing passage, a connection from the outlet chamber to the rim flushing passage, a part connected with the diaphragm extending through the aperture in said partition, and provided with a normally closed valve for preventing admission of water to theinlet chamber, and a normally open valve for closing the aperture in the partition when the inlet valve is open, to discharge water continu-' ously to the jet flushing passage, a relief valve for the back pressure chamber, means for establishing communication between the water supply and the back pressure chamber, a pivoted closet-seat, and operative connections between the seat and the relief valve,

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

. PHILIP HAAS.

Witnesses: V

L. E. FELDMAN, READ M. KUHNS.

Copies of-thls' patent may be obtained {or five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

7 Washington, D. G. 

